California vs Washington State Syrah Showdown

California vs Washington State Syrah Showdown – Episode #461

May 8, 2008

Today in a head to head confrontation Gary Vaynerchuk pits 2 Syrahs against each other, one from Washington State and the other from California.

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Comments on this episode(164) Leave a comment ›

“You Made Some Good Points There. I Did a Search on the Topic and Found…” by Knipe
“Looking for a Washington Syrah on Google brought me to this episode.
…” by mrzitro
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2005 Rhapsody3 Syrah
2005 Gramercy Cellars Walla Walla Valley Syrah

164 Responses

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May 9, 2008

M
QOTD: I haven’t had very many $30+ wines. Luckily the ones I’ve had were good, burgundy, brunello di montalcino. I’m most comfortable at $12-$24. I’ve been disappointed in that range probably because I’ve had so many. If I had more $30+ wines, I’m sure I’d find some that were disappointing. Statistics……
May 9, 2008

ChezJim
GV – I, too, heard you on “The Herd”. That was outstanding. Wine and Sports, what a great combination.

Good show. I always love it when you tell it like it is.

QOTD – I had an E. Guigal 2001 Chateauneuf Du Pape that couldn’t compete with E. Guigal’s $10 2003 Cotes du Rhone. Disappointing.
May 9, 2008

Rodrigo
2004 Groth Cabernet Sauvignon, paid around $40 something, it was crappy. I felt ripped off. Since then at that price point, I go Chilean all the way, Napa can’t touch it at that price. Plus they don’t make fruit bombs in Chile(generally).
May 9, 2008

LauraG
QOTD: Honestly can’t recall one at that pricepoint. Seems to be kind of a sweet spot for me.

On another note, how about a show on wines of Galicia? Albarino is obvious and has been done, but how about a red from Bierzo, and perhaps a Godello (Galicia’s “other” white grape) from Valdeorras? Those are really up and coming wines with a lot of potential, especially the Godello, which will appeal to Chard drinkers. Just food for thought.
May 9, 2008

Jayhitek
QOTD: DuckHorn. It was a lot more than $30 though.. But it really sucked. Maybe if it was decanted the day before it would have been better.
May 9, 2008

KW
Gary – great format, but suggest two glasses.
QOTD: 02 Valrose, not quite $30 but dissappointed.
May 9, 2008

Kevin C
Just heard GV on Collin Cowherd! Another awesome showing by GV! Wine a t a tailgate…we’re changing the wine world!
May 9, 2008

Oklahoma Michael
The TASTE-OFF no-pay-per-view!! I love this format. QOTD-2005 Ridge Geyserville disappionting even more because of my past love for this wine. Then I remembered that grapes are affected by weather and are not some uniform stamped-out-of-sheet-metal product that too many of us seem to think. I will be buying the 2006 for sure
May 9, 2008

Danny C
QOTD:

I can’t remember a $30, but how about a $55 Cab from Wash State…the 2005 Pepper Bridge Cab, typically I like their wines, but not this one, especially for the cash money!
May 9, 2008

Paul DeRose
How about the majority of $30 red Burgundies, although I recently had an ‘05 Fixin by Rene Bouvier ($40) that was particularly disappointing. I had tried and liked his Marsannay in the past, but this wine had so much new oak. It tasted like buttered popcorn, but bitter. Yuck.
May 9, 2008

lurkdawg
QOTD: I had one of the recent releases (forget which vintage) of Marchesi di Barolo’s Barolo last year and thought it was a huge letdown. I’m sure there have been many others, but that one stands out. I do love Barolo and Barbaresco, but I’ve only once had one under $40 that I really liked.
May 9, 2008

Donna Marie
QOTD: Simi Landslide Cab-don’t remember the vintage. Though I have enjoyed other wines from them.
May 9, 2008

wayno da wino
Qotd: Two Losers in da 40-50 bone dud category stand-out. About 15 years
ago i bought a Ramonet Premier Cru White Burgundy and a Chapoutier Chante
Alouette White Hermitage both rated in da mid 90s by da wine critics……
Was really expectin’ somethin’ Yummy, but they were RAAAAAAAAUNCHEEEEEEEEE
YUUUUUUKE…….
May 9, 2008

Garry
With all of the FANTASTIC wine you can get for less
than 25 BONES. I’ve never had a $30 bottle of wine.
But then I’ve only been drinking wine for about 8 months.
May 9, 2008

thefanjestic
Qotd – too many to count. Nice Citizen Kane refrence – what’s up with that?
May 9, 2008

MtnCharlie
Like the back and forth on the head-to-head.

QOTD: 2001 Castello di Gabbiano Bellezza $32 at BevMo. Fortunately it was on their 5 cent sale. First one I had about a year ago was decent. Opened the other recently and it was flat, dry, short finish. Also, 2005 Testarossa Syrah Subasio Central Coast $29. Not bad, but also not exceptional. Fruity, a little spice, but a bit one dimensional.
May 9, 2008

fatdoi
qotd….. john duval entity…
May 9, 2008

Tommy BoBo of WI
Love theSyrah!! tks
QOTD:,, I’ve been on a good run of late,,, can’t remember my last “bad” bottle… Good luck on all your upcoming TV appearances!
May 9, 2008

Lawrence Leichtman
Almost any Syrah or Shiraz in the $30 plus range especially from Australia. Always too overblown for me. I have had some $30 cabs that were wonderful. Still trying to like Lebanese Musar at its price point.
May 9, 2008

laurie in VT
QOTD: There have so far only been a couple, but they weren’t bad enough to motivate me to get up now and find the names in my notebook. I tend to search for value under $30…

I picked up my pre-ordered copy of your book yesterday afternoon on my way to work (yay for locally owned bookstores!), and started it this morning. Way cool, nicely done, sweet, etc.! Definitely going to be giving copies as presents. Thanks!
May 9, 2008

torquey
QOTD: Most every restaurant wine I’ve had at that price point has been a disappointment.
May 9, 2008

Omallley
Love the head to heads. Good show, Gary.

QOTD: Tomassi Amarone that I had three years ago. Although, I would love to retaste it, because I certainly did not have the palate to appreciate it at the time (as I was just starting to drink wine).
May 9, 2008

Harry
In the kosher world, there are a lot of $30 let downs. Maybe the Herzog Sp. Res. Zinfandel and Napa Valley Cab stand out, although i’ve had a quite a few. Good show once again Gary – I like the comparisons of regions, but maybe you could give a little more terroir notes?
May 9, 2008

alfredhayes
QOTD: Haven’t had too many over the big $30. The biggest let down for me would have to be Yalumba Shiraz circa 2003.
May 9, 2008

ChrisH
I have a lot of $30+ wine in my collection but I can’t remember the last time I actually drank a bottle of it. I had a malbec at a restaurant in Phoenix that I believe was about $8 a glass that pretty much stunk (WAY too hot and absolutely no finish speak of besides the alcohol). I guess if you average out the cost per class that is about $30 for the bottle…even if it was restaurant pricing